ABOUT THE POD

REFORMASIUM is the combination of two words: Reformed and gymnasium. Allow us to provide a brief explanation.

Reformed: The theological system in which we hold to, believing it to be that which is taught throughout the Holy Scripture, is Reformed Theology. Reformed Theology is most known by what is commonly called the Five Points of Calvinism. This, in essence, is the teaching that mankind after the Fall is totally depraved (i.e. sinful through and through) and therefore spiritually dead to the things of God; God’s electing grace unto salvation is unconditional, meaning He chose His redeemed people according to the good intention of His own will, not because of anything foreseen in them; the atonement of Christ had a distinct and perfect purpose – the actual redemption of God’s chosen people – and therefore was not a theoretical atonement making salvation a “possibility”; the grace of God in the salvation of His elect people cannot be thwarted, but will achieve its holy purpose in His timing; and all of God’s redeemed people will persevere to the end because they are preserved by God’s grace. Reformed Theology, however, also consists of the Five Solas: salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone, according to Scripture alone. Further, Reformed Theology is characterized by a hermeneutical perspective known as Covenant Theology, which in essence views the Old and New Testaments as containing more continuity than discontinuity, of there being one people of God throughout the Testaments, rather than two distinct peoples of God (i.e. Israel and the Church), and of the New Covenant in the blood of Christ being the realized Covenant of Grace (here we show our Baptist perspective of Covenant Theology in distinction to our Presbyterian brethren).

Gymnasium: Yes, that’s right. Gymnasium. No, we don’t do Reformed gymnastics, whatever that is. In Ancient Greece the gymnasium was not only the place for athletic training, but also served a much broader cultural purpose. It was a place for people to gather in order to socialize and engage in intellectual pursuits. What is more, even in our own day, a gymnasium can also serve as a school, with an emphasis on academic learning. Of interesting note is the fact that Paul uses the Greek word γύμναζε (gymnaze) in 1 Timothy 4:7. The root of the word is the same root that we have in gymnasium. Paul uses this word in his exhortation to Timothy to discipline himself for the purpose of godliness. So this is the sense in which gymnasium finds its way in our name: a place for socializing and engaging in reasoned discussion for the purpose of educating, equipping, and encouraging fellow Christians.

So, Reformasium is a place – in this case, a podcast – for lively discussion from a Reformed perspective.